From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 26 October 1791
To the United States Senate and House of Representatives
United States [Philadelphia] October 26th 1791.
Gentlemen of the Senate, and of the House of Representatives
I lay before you copies of the following Acts, which have been transmitted to me during the recess of Congress viz.
An Act passed by the Legislature of New Hampshire, for ceding to the United States, the Fort and Light House belonging to said State.1
An Act of the Legislature of Pennsylvania, ratifying on behalf of said State, the first article of Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, as proposed by Congress; and2
An Act of the Legislature of North Carolina, granting the use of the Jails within that State to the United States.3
Go: Washington
DS, DNA: RG 46, Second Congress, 1791–1793, Records of Legislative Proceedings, President’s Messages.
1. For the act of 14 Feb. 1791 of the New Hampshire legislature ceding Fort William and Mary on New Castle Island and the lighthouse in Portsmouth Harbor, see Josiah Bartlett to GW, 24 Feb. 1791, n.1. See also Alexander Hamilton to GW, 8 Jan. 1791, n.2.
2. For the act of the Pennsylvania legislature approved by the governor on 21 Sept., see Thomas Mifflin to GW, 21 Sept., n.1.
3. For the act of the North Carolina legislature of 13 Dec. 1790, see Alexander Martin to GW, 1 Feb. 1791, n.1. See also John Steele to GW, 4 Jan. 1791. On 27 Oct. 1791 Tobias Lear transmitted to Thomas Jefferson to be deposited in the office of the State Department the originals of the enclosed acts and their cover letters, along with “An Authenticated Act of the Genl Assembly of No. Carolina Authorizing the Governor of that State to convey to the U.S. two certain pieces of Land for the purpose of erecting Light Houses upon them—together with the Deed of the Governor in pursuance thereof, and the original conveyances made to the State by the Individual proprietors,” sent by Martin to GW on 20 July (DNA: RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters). See GW to U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, 27 Oct. (second letter), and GW to Martin, 14 Nov., n.1.